Patent Grant
8770267
This application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. 2006-269094 filed on Sep. 29, 2006 and No. 2007-210254 filed on Aug. 10, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an adsorption module and a method of manufacturing the same.
An adsorption module is for example used for an adsorber in which a refrigerant is evaporated by an adsorptive activity of adsorbent that adsorbs gas-phase refrigerant, and a refrigerating capability is provided due to latent heat of evaporation.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-148194 describes an adsorber including a first heat exchanger filled with adsorbent and a second heat exchanger in which an adsorbed medium to be adsorbed in and desorbed from the adsorbent is evaporated and condensed. The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are enclosed in a closed container in a vacuum state. The first heat exchanger includes an adsorbent molded body and heat medium pipes through which a heat exchange medium flows. The adsorbent molded body is formed by mixing copper powder as a heat transfer accelerating material with adsorbent and sintering the mixture. The heat medium pipes are integrally molded in the adsorbent molded body. For example, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are separately formed, and then air-tightly assembled in the closed vacuum container.
In the adsorbent molded body, the sintered member of the copper powder serves as heat transfer fins, and contact surface area between the fins and the adsorbent filled in the fin is increased to improve a heat transfer characteristic.
In an adsorption module, adsorption and desorption speed is likely to be affected by a thickness of adsorbent filled layer on a periphery of a heat medium pipe due to diffusion resistance of an adsorbed medium when the adsorbed medium is adsorbed by and desorbed from the adsorbent. This affects a cooling efficiency.
The present invention is made in view of the foregoing matter, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an adsorption module capable of reducing the diffusion resistance of the adsorbed medium, and a method of manufacturing the adsorption module. It is another object of the present invention to provide an adsorption module having an improved heat transfer characteristic while reducing the diffusion resistance of the adsorbed medium, and a method of manufacturing the adsorption module.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an adsorption module includes a plurality of heat medium pipes that allows a heat exchange medium to pass through, a porous heat transferring member disposed on peripheries of the heat medium pipes, adsorbent disposed in pores of the porous heat transferring member, and an adsorbed medium passage defined in the porous heat transferring member. The porous heat transferring member is a sintered body formed by sintering a metallic material in a form of one of powders, particles and fibers, and is connected to outer surfaces of the heat medium pipes by metal-to-metal bonding. The porous heat transferring member includes the pores for allowing an adsorbed medium to pass through. The adsorbed medium passage is provided in the porous heat transferring member for allowing the adsorbed medium to flow. The adsorbed medium passage is located between the heat medium pipes, and extends straight along axes of the heat medium pipes.
Namely, the porous heat transferring member has the pores that are formed by the sintering of the metallic member such as in a three-dimensional mesh-like shape, and the adsorbed medium passage is defined in the porous heat transferring member as a space different from the pores. Since the adsorbed medium passage extends straight and parallel to the axes of the heat medium pipes between the heat medium pipes, the adsorbed medium is easily diffused into the porous heat transferring member and easily reaches the adsorbent disposed in the pores. With the arrangement of the adsorbed medium passage, an osmotic distance between an inner surface of the adsorbed medium passage to the outer surface of the heat medium pipe is substantially uniform along the axis of the heat medium pipe. Therefore, the adsorbed medium is smoothly diffused into the porous heat transferring member, and hence diffusion resistance of the adsorbed medium is reduced.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an adsorption module includes: arranging a heat medium pipe and a passage-forming jig for forming a space for an adsorbed medium passage in a casing; introducing metallic powder and adsorbent in the casing through an opening of the casing; removing the passage-forming jig from the casing; closing the opening of the casing; and heating the casing in a furnace such that the metallic powder is sintered and the heat medium pipe and the casing are brazed.
Accordingly, sintering of the metallic powder and brazing of the heat medium pipe and the casing are performed at the same time by heating the casing. A porous heat transferring member is formed by sintering the metallic powder. The space for the adsorbed medium passage is easily formed in the porous heat transferring member by removing the passage-forming jig from the casing in which the metallic powder and adsorbent are introduced and heating the casing.
According to further another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an adsorption module includes; arranging a heat medium pipe in a casing; introducing metallic powder and adsorbent in the casing through an opening; applying a force to a surface of the metallic powder and adsorbent introduced in the casing by a pressing part of a pressing jig for compacting the metallic powder and adsorbent while inserting a passage-forming rod in the casing; removing the pressing jig such that the space for the adsorbed medium passage is formed in a compacted metallic powder and adsorbent; closing the opening of the casing; and heating the casing in a furnace such that the metallic powder is sintered and the heat medium pipe and the casing are brazed.
In this case, the passage-forming rod is integrated with the pressing part. The space for the adsorbed medium passage is formed by the passage-forming rod at the same time as compacting the metallic powder and the adsorbent by the pressing part. Therefore, the number of steps reduces. Also in this case, the sintering of the metallic powder and the brazing of the heat medium pipe and the casing are performed at the same time by heating the casing.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in which:
A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. As shown in
As shown in
The heat medium pipes 21 are made of copper or copper alloy. The porous heat transferring member 23 has pores 23a, and the pores 23a are filled with the adsorbent 24. In the first embodiment, the heat medium pipes 21 are made of copper, for example.
The porous heat transferring member 23 is a sintered body that is formed by heating metallic powder 23b having high heat conductivity so that particles of the metallic powder 23b are adhered to each other without being melt. In other words, in the porous heat transferring member 23, particles of the metallic powder 23b are connected by sintering (hereafter, referred to as sintered connection).
During the sintering, three-dimensional mesh-like small holes are formed in the sintered body due gaps existing between the particles of metallic powder 23b. The pores 23a are provided by the small holes. The above sintered connection without melting means to fuse only surface layers or surface portions of the particles of the metallic powder 23b. That is, during the sintering, contact portions of the particles of the metallic powder 23b are bonded by metal-to-metal bonding while remaining the gaps between the particles of the metallic powder 23b. For example, the metallic powder 23b is made of copper or copper alloy, and is in the form of one of powders, particles, and fibers. In the example shown in
The porous heat transferring member 23 provides a sintered fin having the fine pores 23a (hereafter, also referred to as the porous sintered fin), as shown in
The porous heat transferring member 23 is formed on the peripheral portion 22 of the cylindrical heat medium pipes 21. The porous heat transferring member 23 is bonded with outer surfaces of the heat medium pipes by metal-to metal bonding. The porous heat transferring member 23 has a generally cylindrical shape extending in a direction, as shown in
The adsorbent 24 is in the form of fine particles. The adsorbent 24 is, for example, silica gel or zeolite. The particles of the adsorbent 24 are contained in the pores 23a of the porous heat transferring member 23.
The adsorption heat exchanger 2 further includes adsorbed medium passages 25 through which an adsorbed medium (hereafter, vapor) to be adsorbed by the adsorbent 24 flows. The adsorbed medium passages 25 are formed between the heat medium pipes 21 in the porous heat transferring member 23. In the heat transferring member 23, spaces for the adsorbed medium passages 25 are formed differently from the pores 23a. The adsorbed medium passages 25 extend straight in one direction. Specifically, the adsorbed medium passages 25 extend parallel to the axes of the heat medium pipes 21.
Namely, in the porous heat transferring member 23, the adsorbed medium passages 25 are formed differently from the pores 23a. Further, the adsorbed medium passages 25 are located between the heat medium pipes 21 and extend parallel to the heat medium pipes 21. Therefore, the vapor flowing through the adsorbed medium passages 25 easily pass through the porous heat transferring member 23 and reaches the adsorbent 24 contained in the pores 23a. Accordingly, an adsorbent speed improves.
In the example shown in
As shown in
The vapor can flow through the adsorbed medium passages 25, such as, in a direction perpendicular to a paper of
The adsorbed medium passages 25 are preferably arranged parallel to the axes of the heat medium pipes 21. With this, an osmotic distance r2 from an inner surface of the adsorbed medium passage 25 to the outer surface of the heat medium pipe 21 is uniform across the length of the adsorbed medium passages 25, as shown in
The porous heat transferring member 23 is formed on the peripheries of the heat medium pipes 21. Hereafter, portions of the porous heat transferring member 23, which are located on the peripheries of the heat medium pipes 21 are referred to as peripheral portions 22. In the first embodiment, the peripheral portion 22 of one heat medium pipe 21 and the peripheral portion 22 of the adjacent heat medium pipe 21 are integrally formed. Namely, the peripheral portions 22 of the plural heat medium pipes 21 are integrally formed to have a cylindrical outer shape.
In other words, the peripheral portion 22 of each heat medium pipe 21 is a portion of the porous heat transferring member 23. In the example shown in
In the adsorbent filled layers shown in
In a case that the adsorbed medium passage 25 is always disposed between the outer surfaces of the adjacent heat medium pipes 21 (e.g., as a later described fourth embodiment), the heat transferring distance r1 is defined by a half of a length that is obtained by subtracting a dimension of the adsorbed medium passage 25 from the distance between the outer surfaces of the adjacent heat medium pipes 21.
Because the adsorption and desorption speeds are affected by the osmotic distance r2 and the heat transferring distance r1, it is ideal that the osmotic distance r2 and the heat transferring distance r1 are substantially equal. However, if the heat medium pipes 21 and the adsorbed medium passages 25 are arranged in the porous heat transferring member 23 to satisfy the above condition, the shape of the adsorbed medium passages 25 and the structure of the porous heat transferring member 23 may be limited.
Therefore, a condition of the adsorbent filled layer, which is capable of improving a heat transferring characteristic while reducing a diffusion resistance of the adsorbed medium even if the heat transferring distance r1 is different from the osmotic distance r2, is studied, and the following condition regarding the thickness L of the adsorbent filed layer is found.
Referring to
The refrigerating capacity is in proportional to the weight of the adsorbent and the adsorption speed (η/τ). When the thickness L is 2 mm, the cooling efficiency per unit volume is at the maximum, as shown in
Further, as shown in
Even when the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are different in the range, the cooling efficiency equal to or greater than 70% of the maximum cooling efficiency is provided. Accordingly, the adsorption module 1 having a sufficient heat transferring characteristic and having a reduced diffusion resistance of the adsorbed medium is provided.
Further, it is studied about the condition that the thickness L is in the range of 0.5 mm and 6.0 mm, and it is found that an allowable difference between the osmotic distance r2 and the heat transferring distance r1 is approximately 2 mm when the thickness L of the adsorption filled layer is in the above range. In other words, when the thickness L, that is, the heat transferring distance r1 and osmotic distance r2 satisfy the above conditions, the cooling efficiency of 70% or more is provided. Thus, the adsorbent filled layer provides a sufficient cooling efficiency.
The ranges of the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 may be further limited to the following ranges to further improve the cooling efficiency.
For example, the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are set in the range between 0.8 mm and 4.8 mm. In this case, the adsorbent filled layer provides the cooling efficiency of 80% or more relative to the maximum cooling efficiency. Thus, the cooling efficiency further improves.
Further, the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are set in the range between 1.5 mm and 3.8 mm. In this case, the adsorbent filled layer provides the cooling efficiency of 90% or more relative to the maximum cooling efficiency.
Referring back to
The casing body 31 has a cylindrical shape and forms a space for housing the cylindrical porous heat transferring member 23 of the adsorption heat exchanging part 2 therein. A lower opening 32 and an upper opening 33 can be sealed by the sheets 32, 33, respectively, so that the space of the casing body 31 is maintained in a vacuum condition.
The casing 3 has an adsorbed medium inlet pipe 36 and an adsorbed medium outlet pipe 37 adjacent to an upper end of the casing body 31 for introducing and discharging the vapor into and from the porous heat transferring member 23 housed in the casing body 31. In the closed space of the casing body 31, other gas (e.g., a gas-phase refrigerant) except for the adsorbed medium (vapor) does not exist.
During the adsorption, the vapor, which flows from the evaporator, flows in the casing body 31 through the adsorbed medium inlet pipe 36, as shown by the arrow A1. The vapor is separated into the adsorbed medium passages 25 and enters the adsorbent filled layers. During the desorption, the vapor is discharged from the adsorbent filled layers into the adsorbed medium passages 25. The desorbed vapor passes through the adsorbed medium passages 25 and flows out from the casing body 31 through the adsorbed medium outlet pipe 37 toward the condenser, as shown by the arrow A2.
As shown in
The tanks 34, 35 are coupled to the lower and upper ends of the casing body 31. The tanks 34, 35 are provided with a heat medium inlet pipe 38 and a heat medium outlet pipe 39, respectively. Thus, the heat exchange medium flows in the lower tank 34 from the heat medium inlet pipe 38, as shown in FIG. B1. The heat exchange medium flows through the heat medium pipes 21, as shown in
That is, the tank 34 is provided to distribute the heat exchange medium into the heat medium pipes 21, and the tank 35 is provided to collect the heat exchange medium having passed through the heat medium pipes 21 therein. In the example shown in
Next, a process of manufacturing the adsorption module 1 will be described with reference to
Here, the step S100 is performed as a pre-step of the introducing step S200. The component parts are assembled to the casing 3 as much as possible before the copper powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 are introduced in the casing 3.
In the step S100, the heat medium pipes 21 are held and fixed in the casing 3. Specifically, first, ends of the heat medium pipes 21 are inserted in the through holes 32a of the sheet 32. In this condition, the heat medium pipes 21 are expanded in diameter, so that the heat medium pipes 21 are fixed to the sheet 32. Next, the sheet 32 is fixed to the lower opening of the casing body 31. In this condition, the upper opening of the casing body 31 is not covered, but the heat medium pipes 21 are held and fixed in the casing body 31.
Also in this condition, the adjacent heat medium pipes 21 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the casing body 31. Namely, clearances for forming the peripheral portions 22 are maintained between the adjacent heat medium pipes 21.
Also, in the step S100, jigs 61 for forming the adsorbed medium passages 25 (hereafter, referred to as the passage-forming jigs 61) are inserted between the heat medium pipes 21 in the casing body 31. The passage-forming jigs 61 are used for forming spaces (holes) as the adsorbed medium passages 25 in the porous heat transferring member 23, that is, in the peripheral portions 22.
For example, the passage-forming jigs 61 have straight rod shapes, as shown in
Next, in the step S200, the copper powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 are introduced in the peripheral areas of the heat medium pipes 21 and the passage-forming jigs 61 within the casing body 31. Specifically, the mixture of the copper powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 is introduced in the casing body 31 through the introduction port such as the upper opening of the casing body 31 to which the sheet 33 is not assembled yet or communication holes of the casing body 31 to which the adsorbed medium inlet and outlet ports 36, 37 are coupled. As shown in
Then, the passage-forming jigs 61 are removed from the casing body 31. Therefore, the spaces for the adsorbed medium passages 25 are formed in the mixture of the copper powder 23b and the adsorbent 24.
In the step S200, for example, the mixture of the copper powders 23b and the adsorbent 24 in the casing body 31 is compacted to be solid before the passage-forming jigs 61 are removed. For example, as shown in
Accordingly, the spaces for the adsorbed medium passages 25 are maintained in the compacted copper powder 23b and adsorbent 24 even after the passage-forming jigs 61 are removed.
For example, the pressing jig 62 is inserted in the casing body 31 such that the heat medium pipes 21 and the passage-forming jigs 61 pass through the insertion holes 62a, 62b. The surface 22s of the mixed copper powder 23b and adsorbent 24 is pressed by the end surface 62p of the pressing jig 62.
The method of forming the adsorbed medium passages 25 is not limited to the above method. For example, the adsorbed medium passages 25 may be formed by the following method using a jig unit 160 shown in
For example, the adsorbed medium passages 25 can be formed at the same time as pressing the surface 22s of the mixed copper powder 23b and adsorbent 24. The jig unit 160 includes a pressing part 162 and passage-forming rods 161 extending from the pressing part 162. The passage-forming rods 161 extends straight and has projections (e.g., sharp ends) 161a at the ends thereof. The passage-forming rods 161 are integrated with the pressing part 162. The pressing part 162 is formed with insertion holes 62a for allowing the heat medium pipes 21 to pass through.
After the mixture of the copper powders 23b and the adsorbent 24 is filled in the casing body 31, the surface 22s of the mixture of the metallic powder 23b and adsorbent 24 is pressed by a pressing surface 62p of the pressing part 162. Since the passage-forming rods 161 are integrated with the pressing part 162, the spaces for the adsorbed medium passages 25 are formed at the same time as pressing the top surface 22s. Thus, when the jig unit 160 is removed, the spaces for the adsorbed medium passages 25 appear in the compacted mixture of the metallic powder 23b and adsorbent 24.
Accordingly, in the method using the jig unit 160 shown in
Next, in the step S300, all of other component parts to be brazed are assembled to the casing 3. For example, the sheet 33 is assembled to the upper opening of the casing body 31. The adsorbed medium inlet pipe 36 and the adsorbed medium outlet pipe 37 are coupled to the communication holes of the casing body 31, respectively.
Further, the tanks 34, 35 are assembled to the sheets 32, 33 or the casing body 31. Also, the heat medium inlet pipe 38 and the heat medium outlet pipe 39 are coupled to the tanks 34, 35, respectively.
In the step S400, all of the assembled components parts are brazed, the copper powder 23b is sintered so that the porous heat transferring member 23 is formed, the porous heat transferring member 23 is bonded to the heat medium pipes 21 by sintering, and the adsorbent 24 is fixed in the porous heat transferring member 23.
Specifically, a brazing material is applied to the component parts to be brazed, first. For example, the brazing material is applied to connecting portions between the sheets 32, 33 and the heat medium pipes 21, connecting portions between the sheets 32, 33 and the casing body 31, and connecting portions between the sheets 32, 33 and the tanks 34, 35.
Alternatively, the component parts such as the sheets 32, 33 and the tanks 34, 35 can be prepared by copper members that are cladded with a brazing material. In this case, it is not necessary to apply the brazing material to the respective connecting portions of the assembled component parts.
A sintering temperature of the copper powder 23b is in a range between equal to or greater than 700° C. and equal to or less than 1000°. Therefore, a material having a melting temperature in the range between equal to or greater than 700° C. and equal to or less than 1000° is employed as the brazing material. For example, the brazing material is a copper material or a silver material. Further, an adsorbent that is not broken under the high temperature condition in the furnace (e.g., more than 700° C.) is employed as the adsorbent 24.
In this embodiment, the porous heat transferring member 23 is formed with the adsorbed medium passages 25 in addition to the three-dimensional mesh-like small holes 23a. The adsorbed medium passages 25 are located between the heat medium pipes 21 and extend parallel to the axes of the heat medium pipes 21. As such, the vapor easily osmoses from the adsorbed medium passages 25 into the adsorbent filled layers and are adsorbed by the adsorbent 24 contained in the pores 23a of the porous heat transferring member 23. Accordingly, the adsorption speed improves.
Further, the adsorbed medium passages 25 and the heat medium pipes 21 are arranged such that the osmotic distance r2 is substantially uniform throughout the length of the heat medium pipes 21. Since the adsorbed medium passages 25 are formed between the heat medium pipes 21, the diffusion resistance of the vapor reduces. As such, the adsorption speed and the desorption speed improve.
In the first embodiment, the vapor enters the porous heat transferring member 23 from one end (upper end in
Further, the adsorbed medium passages 25 and the heat medium pipes 21 are arranged such that each of the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 is in the range between equal to or greater than 0.5 mm and equal to or less than 6 mm. Even the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are different, the cooling efficiency of 70% or more is provided as long as the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are respectively in the above range. Accordingly, the heat transferring characteristic improves, and the diffusion resistance of the adsorbed medium reduces.
Further, when each of the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 is in the range between 0.8 mm and 4.8 mm, the cooling efficiency further improves (e.g., 80% or more). Furthermore, when each of the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 is in the range between 0.5 mm and 6 mm, the cooling efficiency further improves (e.g., 90% or more).
In the porous heat transferring member 23, the adsorbed medium passages 25 extend parallel to the heat medium pipes 21. The vapor can flow in the adsorbed medium passages 25 in one direction. Therefore, the adsorbed medium passages 25 are easily arranged between the heat medium pipes 21 such that the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2, which affect the adsorption and desorption speeds, are equal as much as possible.
Further, the adsorbed medium passages 25 extend straight along the axes of the heat medium pipes 21. Therefore, the adsorbed medium passages 25 are easily formed by using the straight jigs 61. That is, the adsorbed medium passages 25 are formed by placing the straight rods 61 in a space for forming the porous heat transferring member 23 and removing the straight rods 61 from the space after the copper powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 are introduced in the space.
In the adsorption module 1, the porous heat transferring member 23 is housed in the casing 3, the adsorbed medium inlet pipe 36 is in communication with the evaporator, and the adsorbed medium outlet pipe 37 is in communication with the condenser. During the adsorption, the vapor is introduced into the adsorbent filled layers of the porous heat transferring member 23 from the evaporator. During the desorption, the vapor is discharged from the adsorbent filled layers and introduced into the condenser. Therefore, energy loss during the adsorption and the desorption in the evaporator and the condenser is reduced, even when the evaporator and the condenser are provided separately from the casing 3.
The porous heat transferring member 23 is provided by the sintered body that is formed by sintering of the metallic powder 23b such as the copper powder or the copper alloy powder. The heat medium pipes 21 are made of copper or copper alloy.
Since the heat medium pipes 21 exist in the metallic powders 23b during the sintering, the porous heat transferring member 23, which have the high heat transferring characteristic, are bonded to the heat medium pipes 21 by the sintering. That is, the porous heat transferring member 23 and the heat medium pipes 21 are connected by metallic bonding, not by simply contacting. Therefore, the heat transferring efficiency improves.
In the method of manufacturing the adsorption module 1, the component parts at least including the heat medium pipes 21 and the passage-forming jigs 61 are arranged in the casing 3. Then, the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 are mixed and introduced in the casing 3 such that the mixture of the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 is placed on the peripheral areas of the heat medium pipes 21. Thereafter, the passage-forming jigs 61 are removed so that the spaces for the adsorbed medium passages 25 are formed in the mixture of the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 in the casing 3.
Further, all of the other component parts to be brazed are assembled, and the introduction port is closed. The assembled casing 3 is heated in the furnace. Accordingly, the metallic powders 23b are sintered so that the porous heat transferring member 23 is formed, and the heat medium pipes 21 and the casing 3 are brazed.
Namely, in the method, the sintering for sintering the metallic powders 23b on the peripheral portions 22 of the heat medium pipes 21, a setting for setting the adsorbent 24 in a condition that the adsorbent 24 can have adsorptive activity, and the brazing for brazing the component parts are all performed in the heating step. Therefore, the number of steps of the manufacturing process reduces.
To form the adsorbed medium passages 25, the passage-forming jigs 61 are arranged in the space where the porous heat transferring member 23 is to be formed, with the heat medium pipes 21. The passage-forming jigs 61 are removed after the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 are introduced in the space. Accordingly, the spaces for the adsorbed medium passages 25 are easily formed. Since the adsorbed medium passages 25 are integrally formed into the porous heat transferring member 23, the manufacturing process is simplified, and costs for manufacturing the adsorption module 1 reduces.
In this method, the surface 22s of the mixture of the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 in the casing body 31 can be pressed by the pressing jig 62, before the passage-forming jigs 61 are removed. Therefore, since the metallic powders 23b and the adsorbent 24 are compacted, the spaces of the adsorbed medium passages 25 remain even after the passage-forming jigs 61 are removed.
That is, even in a condition where the metallic powder 23b are not bonded by sintering yet, the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 in the casing 3 are solid and retain the shape. Even when the casing 3 filled with the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 is moved, that is, carried from one step to another step during the manufacturing, the compacted metallic powder 23b and adsorbent 24 withstands against an impact, which will be caused during the moving.
Further, the metallic powder 23b is abutted or pressed against the heat medium pipes 21 when the surface 22s is pressed by the pressing jig 62. That is, contact portions between the metallic powder 23b and the heat medium pipes 21 increase. Therefore, the metallic powder 23b is effectively bonded to the heat medium pipes 21 by sintering during the heating.
In the method using the jig unit 160, the spaces for the adsorbed medium passages 25 are formed at the same time as pressing the top surface 22s, after the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 are introduced in the casing 3. In the jig unit 160, the passage-forming rods 161 are integrated with the pressing part 162. After the metallic powders 23b and the adsorbent 24 are introduced in the casing body 31, the surface 22s of the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 is pressed by the end surface 62p of the pressing part 162 while inserting the passage-forming rods 161 into the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24. Then, when the jig unit 160 is separated, that is, the passage-forming rods 161 are removed from the casing body 31, the spaces for the adsorbed medium passages 25 remain in the compacted metallic powder 23b and adsorbent 24.
In other words, the step of forming the space for the adsorbed medium passages 25 and the step of pressing the surface 22s are performed at once. Therefore, the number of steps in the manufacturing process reduces. Further, the passage-forming rods 161 have the sharp ends 161a. Therefore, the passage-forming rods 161 are smoothly inserted into and removed from the metallic powder 23b and adsorbent 24.
Further, the brazing material having the melting point in the range between 700° C. and 1000° C. is used. The sintering temperature of the copper powders 23b is also in the range between 700° C. and 1000° C. Therefore, the brazing step and the sintering step are performed at the same time only by heating the casing 3 in the furnace.
A second embodiment will be described with reference to
The porous heat transferring member 23 includes the adsorbent filled layers, that is, the peripheral portions 122. The peripheral portions 122 extend in the right and left direction of
The adsorbed medium passage 125 is formed between the peripheral portions 122. The adsorbed medium passage 125 also has a flat shape parallel to the flat heat medium pipes 121. In other words, the adsorbed medium passages 125 and the peripheral portions 122 are alternately arranged in the up and down direction in
In this case, the heat is mainly transferred from main surfaces of the heat medium pipes 121, that is, from the longitudinal side in its cross-sectional shape. Therefore, the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are defined as shown in
In this case, the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are normally substantially equal. Even when the heat medium pipes 121 have the flat shapes, the heat is mainly transferred from the main surfaces of the flat heat medium pipes 121. The similar effects as the first embodiment will be provided.
Since the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are substantially equal, even when the thickness L of the adsorbent filled layer needs to be set in a range smaller than the range of the first embodiment, the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are easily set. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of a substantially maximum level or close to the maximum level is provided. As such, the performance of the adsorption module 1 further improves.
Also, since the adsorbed medium passages 125 are parallel to the flat medium pipes 121, the adsorption module 1 having the adsorption heat exchanging part 102 may be formed by the similar manner as the first embodiment.
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
The heat exchanging part 202 includes the porous heat transferring member 23 that has adsorbent filled layers, that is, peripheral portions 222. The peripheral portions 222 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the right and left direction in
Further, adsorbed medium passages 225 are formed between the peripheral portions 222. In other words, the peripheral portions 222 and the adsorbed medium passages 225 are alternately arranged in the right and left direction in
The heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are defined as shown in
Also, in a case that the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 have a difference between them, the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are set such that the thickness L of the adsorbent filled layer satisfies the range of the first embodiment.
Also in this embodiment, since the adsorbed medium passages 225 extend parallel to axes of the heat medium pipes 121, the similar effects as the first and second embodiment will be provided. The adsorption module 1 having the adsorption heat exchanging part 202 may be formed by the similar manner as the first and second embodiments.
A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to
The porous heat transferring member 23 includes peripheral portions 822 around the heat medium pipes 21. In
The adsorbed medium passage 825 extends in a direction parallel to the axes of the heat medium pipes 21, and also extends in directions intersecting the axes of the heat medium pipes 21. Also, in the adsorbed medium passage 825, the adjacent passage portions 825a are in communication with each other.
In other words, the adsorbed medium passage 825 includes portions extending in the direction parallel to the axes of the heat medium pipes 21 and in the directions intersecting the axes of the heat medium pipes 21. As such, the vapor can be introduced not only in the direction parallel to the axes of the heat medium pipes 21 but also in the directions intersecting the axes of the heat medium pipes 21. Accordingly, the vapor can be more effectively diffused into the peripheral portions 822.
Also, since the adjacent passage portions 825a surrounding the peripheral portions 822 are in communication with each other, the vapor can be substantially uniformly introduced over the adsorbed medium passage 825.
Each passage portion 825a has the annular or polygonal shaped cross-section. In the example shown in
Since the adjacent passage portions 825a are in communication with each other, the adsorbed medium passage 825 has a honeycomb shape. In this case, since the passage area of the adsorbed medium passage 825, that is, a total surface area of the adsorbed medium passage 825 facing the peripheral portions 822 increases larger than a total passage area of the adsorbed medium passage that are formed separately as an individual straight passage. As such, the adsorption speed of the vapor further improves.
In the adsorption heat exchanging part 802, the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are defined as shown in
Further, the adsorbed medium passage 825 is formed to extend straight in the direction parallel to the axes of the heat medium pipes 21. That is, each passage portion 825a has an axis parallel to the axes of the heat medium pipes 21. Therefore, the adsorbed medium passage 825 is easily formed by using a passage-forming jig 261 shown in
Next, a method of manufacturing the adsorption module 1 having the adsorption heat exchanging part 802 will be described with reference to
The passage-forming jig 261 has a honeycomb shape in a cross-section defined in a direction perpendicular to the length thereof. The passage-forming jig 261 includes honeycomb-shaped separation walls 261a for forming the peripheral portions 822. The inner surfaces 261b of the separation walls 261a form outer surfaces of the peripheral portions 822. The separation walls 261a form spaces for the adsorbed medium passage 825. The peripheral portions 822 are separated by the separation walls 261a.
Next, the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 are introduced in the casing 3. In this case, the surface 22s of the metallic powder 23b and adsorbent 24 in the casing 3 is separated into plural portions 882s by the separation walls 261a. That is, each portion 882s corresponds to a top portion of each peripheral portion 822. The adjacent portions 882s are separated from each other by the separation walls 261a.
After the metallic powder 23b and the adsorbent 24 are introduced in the casing 3, the portions 882s are pressed by a pressing jig 262 shown in
The pressing jig 262 shown in
As shown in
In any cases, a pressing force to the portion 822s is adjusted by each of the pressing jig 262. That is, the pressing force is adjusted for each portion 822s. Therefore, the metallic powder 23b and adsorbent 24 in the peripheral portion 822 is uniformly compacted even by pressing the portion 822s thereof having a relatively small surface area.
As shown in
In a case that the top surface 22s of the metallic powder 23ba and adsorbent 24 is pressed by one pressing jig 62 as in the first embodiment, it is preferable that the top surface 22s before the pressing is flat as much as possible. If the top surface 22s is not flat, only raised portions will be pressed, and the remaining portion will not be sufficiently pressed. That is, the top surface 22s will be pressed unevenly. Therefore, the metallic powders 23b and adsorbent 24 will be unevenly compacted.
In this embodiment, on the other hand, the top surface 22s is pressed by portion to portion, that is, the portions 822s are pressed independently by the pressing jig 262. Therefore, the portions 822s are compressed substantially uniformly over the top surface 22s, and the compressed metallic powder 23b and adsorbent 24 maintain the shape.
Also in this embodiment, the casing 3 is heated in the furnace after the jig 261 is removed.
The above embodiments will be modified in various ways. For example, the outer shapes of the heat medium pipes 21 and the casing 3 will not be limited to the cylindrical shape and the rectangular shape as described in the first to third embodiment. The heat medium pipe 21 may have any cross-sectional shape such as elliptical cross-section, polygonal cross-section or the like. Further, the casing 3 may have any cross-sectional shape such as elliptical cross-section, polygonal cross-section or the like.
In the first embodiment, the adsorbed medium passage 25 has a circular shaped cross-section. However, the adsorbed medium passage 25 may have any other cross-sectional shapes.
The cross-sectional shape of the adsorbed medium passage 25 will not be limited to the above discussed shapes.
In the examples shown in
In the fourth embodiment, the adsorbed medium passage 825 has the honeycomb shape forming hexagonal passage portions 825a. However, the shape of the adsorbed medium passage is not limited to the honeycomb shape forming the hexagonal passage portions 825a as long as the peripheral portions 822 are surrounded by the passage portions. For example, as shown in
Also, in an example shown in
In the case that the adsorbed medium passage 825 is formed in the honeycomb shape having the polygonal-shaped passage portions 825a, the heat transferring distance r1 and the osmotic distance r2 are set substantially equal entirely along the peripheral portion 822. Here, the polygonal shape means polygon including six or more than six sides, for example.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader term is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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| 2006-269094 | Sep 2006 | JP | national |
| 2007-210254 | Aug 2007 | JP | national |
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